ASOS Affiliate Program Back!

[maverick]

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Hi,

Has anyone else heard that ASOS are back with an invitation only program on Linkshare?

cheers,

mav

[gadget]

Oh, Affiliates aren't so "Grubby" afterall eh .. this is so so funny!!

http://econsultancy.com/blog/918-aff...ls-them-grubby

[maverick]

Maybe Linkshare have a "is_grubby" flag for affiliates?

[warren_p]

Oh, Affiliates aren't so "Grubby" afterall eh .. this is so so funny!!

Affiliates close rank after ASOS CEO calls them "grubby" | Blog | Econsultancy

I was actually looking to see if they had one the other day and I came across this so I am suprised that they are relaunching but I suppose they can by pass the grubby affiliates and just invite the highest earners I mean the least grubby.

[scriptmonkey]

In the time I've been doing this, I've been called a lot worse than grubby, I don't agree with boycotting a company because their CEO is/was a misguided knob (I'd boycott nearly everyone ), and, I actually like ASOS, the concept, the style and the brand, so, I'm in if there's a program available.

'Sticks and Stones'

[John Jupp]

YouTube - Nick Robertson, ASOS and Affiliate Marketing

Says it all really.



Image courtesy of Clarke Duncan.

[scriptmonkey]

Whilst I have a lot of respect for Shawn Collins, i don't agree with him on this issue, ASOS ended their affiliate program becasue they (incorrectly) thought that they could do just as well without affiliates, sadly Nick Robertson put his foot in his mouth by calling affiliates grubby (a parting shot I guess), but, he was a CEO, and as far removed from the reality of the affiliate situation as it's possible to be.

They made a mistake, thats all, no need to pillory them.

Would it be better to embrace ASOS on their return to affiliate marketing (if they are in fact returning), and to congratulate them on their renewed vision that affiliate marketing is THE way to increment sales for an online-only business. Forgive and forget, it was a stupid thing to say, but, how many of us have said stupid things that we wish would just go away?

[kcheung]

i think asos/econsultancy should therefore widely publicise this fact.

afterall, if asos have damaged the industry by stating that affiliate marketing is 'grubby', they should have to publicly announce they are 'going back on that statement'

[gadget]

@Ken. eConsultancy did a follow-up interview with Nick ..

Q&A: ASOS' Nick Robertson speaks out on 'Grubbygate' | Blog | Econsultancy

@Tony. I personally agree that the original comments were taken out of context and that it's not worth boycotting ASOS going forward, unless you can afford to. Most affiliates would be delighted to be invited onto the ASOS invitation only program .. but they may not say that on this forum publically.

[kcheung]

@gadget - thanks, sorry i mean they should do a follow up interview about why asos have decided to put the affiliate program back on, given that in this interview (from 2007) he states - they (the customer) just had to click on some other sites and we would have to pay commissions on them.

that statement it self shows a total misunderstanding of affiliate marketing anyways. but my point is very clear.

Asos closing their program spun a very negative image of affiliate marketing. NOW that they are returning to affiliate marketing, Asos should be pressed to change the already negative image they helped to create. They can do this by doing a 2009 Asos interview about how they now DO believe in affiliate marketing.

anyways, i'd be interested to see which affiliates will suddenly get short memories run this campaign, at the end of the day Asos are a great brand with good products...but after causing such a mess for the industry, is it right that there is support for such a merchant?

[scriptmonkey]

Asos closing their program spun a very negative image of affiliate marketing.

A sense of perspective may be required? In the grand scheme of things, a small company said some things about affiliate marketing that some of us took offence to, if they are making a return to affiliate marketing, then, that in itself is enough, theres no need for us to behave like primadonnas.

I don't actually believe that ASOS saying affiliate marketing is good or bad really makes a difference to anyone, except ASOS themselves.

is it right that there is support for such a merchant?

If anyone chooses to support their decision (real or imagined) then they must be free to do so. I support the decision if it's a reality.

[kcheung]

A sense of perspective may be required? In the grand scheme of things, a small company said some things about affiliate marketing that some of us took offence to, if they are making a return to affiliate marketing, then, that in itself is enough, theres no need for us to behave like primadonnas.

appreciate what you're saying with exception to the above statement... it's not that Asos are big or small, but rather the level of PR/noise/negative impression generated by that and the level of press coverage (eg by econsultancy) that was generated that i think is the issue. Of course there are advocates and critics of affiliate marketing in the wider media industry, but when so much press suggest affiliate marketing is 'grubby' then it 'pushes away' potential prospects, to the detriment of the affiliate marketing industry as a whole.

[gadget]

@Ken. I think scriptmonkey is right with regard to the actual effect ASOS had on AM as a sector. Yes some AM big boys got upset, rightly so at the time, but I don't think GrubbyGate had that big effect on the industry.

Affiliate Marketing has grown year on year since day one. It has also become more professional through this time.

People who still feel sore about this will not support ASOS. However, there will be plenty of people who are alreadu busy emailing various people to find out how they join this program.

[scriptmonkey]

True Ken, but, that was over 2 years ago, and this is now.

What better way to rise above those critiscisms than to re-accept ASOS into our industry? The mere fact that they may be considering a return to AM is enough to wash away the detrimental comments, proving that he (Nick) was wrong to have said them, he doesn't need to apologise or rephrase anything, he was wrong, although, he did raise some valid points in his response.

"It got to the point where it was a full time policing job just to stop the unethical and against-the-rules practices that these affiliates were employing. What happened was the bad affiliates tarnished the good affiliates and we just culled the lot."

there will be plenty of people who are already busy emailing various people to find out how they join this program

Me for one

[kcheung]

point taken @gadget@script.

i'm certainly not discouraging anyone from signing up, good for them! and Linkshare are a great network, I guess my issue with this is the 'morality' of it, you're right it is a few years ago, and the industry and understanding of affiliate marketing has grown, the formation of the guidelines by the IAB (Matt take note, a positive comment) has also greatly added to the understanding of affiliate marketing by the wider marketing industry.

BUT, is it 'right' and is it 'enough' for ASOS to waltz back in like this? will they be more accepting/understanding of the channel, will it all blow over again? will the industry again be tarnished? should affiliates trust a brand that made a very clear stance? - its not that I'm of an opinion either way, but i'm more concerned about how this reflects on the wider stance of the affiliate marketing community.


and besides, my original intention of encourage ASOS to make a statement on this was actually to BOOST the image of AM - 'hey, we were wrong back then, we've though it over and AM really is pretty good and all you merchants should try it out' - now that would be great for the industry and 'legitimize it as a formal sales/marketing channel.